Sud Forno: Italian Bakery Heaven on Queen West

The best part of walking into Italian bakery Sud Forno: the smell. It’s the fresh, heavenly scent of dough rising from the oven — one of the nine varieties of bread baked here. Or it might be the dozens of pizzas being sliced in front of the kitchen of this welcoming panetteria. Or maybe it’s something sweet: On the counter, you see the piles of fried bombolones oozing with vanilla pastry cream or Nutella.

Whatever’s rising out of this sud forno (“south oven”), it’s nothing short of magic. Call up an old friend and have them meet you here, where homey interiors provide a warm, welcoming backdrop for some much-needed catching up.

Sud Forno sits on Queen West, next to its parent restaurant, Pizzeria Terroni. Within the Italian bakery’s glass cases, you find a wide selection of Italian sweets and paninis for you to grab and go, or stay and savour. Bite into the creamy and crunchy Sicilian-style cannoli, filled with ricotta, pistachio, and candied orange peel. The paninis, made with that signature bread, offer something a bit more substantial to help counter your sweet tooth. Try the panino classico, a simple but delicious concoction of prosciutto di Parma, fior di latte mozzarella, tomato, and basil. And if that pizza looks too good to ignore, you’re in luck: It’s the perfect size for a snack. You can’t go wrong with a slice of capricciosa (white pizza, prosciutto, mozzarella, artichokes, olives, mushrooms). Of course, if you get a friend or two to join in, you can split a whole pie.

Grab your grub and head upstairs to chat and nibble on the homemade delights. Settle in at the communal table, or have a seat at the window and gaze out onto Queen Street West. The floors are an intricate mosaic of tiles adorned with inspiring words like “amore.” Here, in this cozy, deliciously fragrant setting, you feel that the word is an extension of a family empire built with love. If you finish eating before you’re done chatting, browse the wooden, floor-to-ceiling shelves stockpiled with jars and boxes of Terroni essentials – canned tomatoes, capers, green olives, olive oil, and more. This Italian bakery provides a tasty meal, but it’s also an essential pit stop on Queen Street West – and a great place to celebrate famiglia and amici.